Celebrity Name: Lexie Hull
Brand Name: KFC
Deal Type: Brand Ambassador / Promotional Campaign
Announced: March 16, 2026
Impact: Expands KFC’s athlete marketing bench while boosting Hull’s off-court profile during a pivotal WNBA offseason
- Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull has partnered with KFC to promote the brand’s limited-time 20 Wings for $20 deal, telling fans “there’s something for everybody!”
- The campaign is timed to the 2026 March Madness bracket season, running from bracket reveal through the final buzzer, with wings available at participating KFC locations nationwide.
- Hull is one of the WNBA’s rising stars in the brand partnership space, having previously worked with Athleta, Samsung Galaxy, Aflac, Sweetgreen, and Teriyaki Madness, among others.
- KFC has a history of pairing with athletes for major promotions: from Jamal Murray and Zach Edey to international stars like Jaydon Hibbert and iconic throwback spots with Shaquille O’Neal.
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull is the latest WNBA star to score a big brand deal, teaming up with KFC to promote the chain’s buzzy 20 Wings for $20 offer. The limited-time deal is built for bracket season watch parties, and Hull is front and center, telling fans there’s “something for everybody.”
The 20 Wings for $20 deal is available now for a limited time at participating KFC locations, timed to the 2026 college basketball tournament and covering everything from bracket reveal through the final buzzer.
KFC CMO Melissa Cash noted that fans want food that feels like part of the occasion but is also easy and affordable. And at nearly 50% savings compared to the average $1.79-per-wing competitor price, KFC is making that pitch hard to ignore.
Hull is a natural fit for the campaign. In her fourth WNBA season, she played in all 44 regular-season games, posting career highs of 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, emerging as one of Indiana’s most dependable players during a season hit by injuries to stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham.
Off the court, Hull has been steadily building her brand portfolio. Other WNBA stars are also landing major endorsement deals: Azzi Fudd, Trey McKenney, and Napheesa Collier recently fronted GEICO’s March Madness docuseries and Jayson Tatum and Candace Parker led AT&T’s March Madness campaign.
Hull’s previous partnerships include Athleta, Samsung Galaxy, Aflac, and Sweetgreen, and she most recently announced a deal with Teriyaki Madness heading into the 2026 offseason, making the KFC campaign another savvy move in what’s becoming a very active sponsorship run.
Takeaways
This deal is a smart play on both sides. Hull brings authenticity and a growing, loyal WNBA fanbase that’s proven it shows up for brands, especially when the face of the campaign is someone fans genuinely trust.
KFC, meanwhile, is leaning hard into bracket season as a cultural moment, and anchoring that push with a relatable, rising athlete is exactly how modern fast food marketing works.
What’s also worth noting: Hull isn’t just cashing a check. She’s been co-founding her own cosmetics company (Forta Cosmetics), signing deals across food, fitness, and lifestyle, and competing in Unrivaled.
This KFC partnership fits neatly into a bigger picture of a WNBA player building a brand that extends well beyond basketball.
Does having a WNBA star like Lexie Hull front this campaign make KFC’s 20 Wings deal more appealing to younger sports fans? With WNBA players increasingly landing major brand deals, are we witnessing a permanent shift in how companies view women’s basketball athletes as marketing assets?
